5 Players to Watch in Iowa Class 3A Quarterfinals

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the quarterfinals of the Iowa High School Football playoffs right around the corner, we detail five players to watch -- maybe a few that haven't gotten the spotlight as much as they deserve this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/11/5-players-to-watch-in-iowa-8-man-quarterfinals/">5 Players to Watch in Iowa 8-Man Quarterfinals</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/11/5-players-to-watch-in-iowa-class-a-quarterfinals/">5 Players to Watch in Iowa Class A Quarterfinals</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/11/5-players-to-watch-in-iowa-class-1a-quarterfinals/">5 Players to Watch in Iowa Class 1A Quarterfinals</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/11/5-players-to-watch-in-iowa-class-2a-quarterfinals/">5 Players to Watch in Iowa Class 2A Quarterfinals</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="http://Scouting Reports: Winterset Huskies 2025">Scouting Reports: Winterset Huskies 2025<br></a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/09/scouting-davenport-assumption-at-solon/">Scouting Reports: Solon Spartans 2025</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1844805"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-690ce0e3613d6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The heart of Clear Lake's offensive production this season has clearly [player_tooltip player_id='1204540' first='Jaxson' last='McIntire'], who leads the Lions through the air and on the ground. The <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/10/two-way-wonders-standouts-on-offense-and-defense/">Two-Way Wonder</a> has been key to his team's undefeated efforts this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Don't discount [player_tooltip player_id='1844805' first='Raif' last='Baack']'s contributions on the defensive side of the ball, though. The Lions' leading tackler far and away with 64, Baack has put together 39 solo tackles and ten tackles-for-loss (TFLs) this season for Clear Lake, adding a fumble recovery for a touchdown. The Lions wouldn't be where they are without Baack's defensive efforts. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1696598"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-690ce0e361504"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Sharing his name with one of the top prospects in the country in 2026 OT, Jackson Cantwell out of Nixa, Missouri, [player_tooltip player_id='1696598' first='Jack' last='Cantwell'] had to do some living up to his name in 2025, and so far, he's done that on both sides of the ball for West Delaware.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On offense, Cantwell leads the Hawks in yards despite being third in carries, taking 98 rushes for 1,005 yards (10.3 yards per carry) and 11 scores. He also leads WD in receiving with 19 catches for 293 yards and two touchdowns.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defensively, Cantwell keeps up the effort as his team's third-leading tackler, posting 43 tackles and adding three interceptions, including a pick-six. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Anderson Herbst","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"190","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2411","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Dubuque Wahlert","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-690ce0e361680"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Anderson Herbst may be the most underrated piece to Dubuque Wahlert's attempt at winning back-to-back 3A state championships this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The most versatile prospect on the Golden Eagles' roster in all three phases, Herbst has taken 41 carries for 466 yards (11.4 yards per carry) and five scores. He leads Wahlert through the air, grabbing 38 catches for 530 yards and four touchdowns. On defense, Hebrst has posted 49.5 tackles on the backend, adding three interceptions. He also took a kick return 97 yards for a touchdown on behalf of Wahlter's special teams unit. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1848693"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-690ce0e36170b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The gunslinger for 9-1 Sioux Center, [player_tooltip player_id='1848693' first='Ezra' last='Hibma'] has taken his game to a completely new level this season. Starting as a sophomore, Hibma completed less than 50% of his passes, throwing for 276 yards and just two touchdowns to two picks. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>During his junior campaign, he 6-foot-1, 195-pound quarterback has completed 100-of-165 passes (60.6%) for 1,564 yards, 20 touchdowns and five interceptions, putting together the fifth-best passer-rating in 3A (174.2). Hibma has also become much more effective as a runner, taking 81 carries for 423 yards and seven scores.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Facing Bishop Heelan -- the only team to hand the Spartans a loss in 2025 -- Hibma will need to be at the top of his game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1242256"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-690ce0e36178d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One of just a few prospects in Class 3A with multiple defensive touchdowns, [player_tooltip player_id='1242256' first='Austin' last='Waldera'], like Herbst, has been critical in all three phases of the game for Nevada this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Starting on the offensive side of the ball, Waldera has taken 163 carries for 844 yards and six touchdowns for the Cubs this fall. Defensively, in addition to the interception and fumbles he returned for scores, Waldera has been a menace, leading Nevada in tackles (50.5) and TFLs (14.5). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Serving as his team's punter, Waldera does a bit of everything for the Cubs. This season, he's booted away 26 punts for 970 yards, averaging 37.3 yards per punt. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->